Grabbing the blood-soaked hilt, I pull the bde out of my body. A wave of dizziness washes over me.

  I fall to my side and vaguely recall something about keeping the knife in so you don't bleed out.

  Thanks for only reminding me now, I tell my brain.

  I crawl across the ground, wincing as each movement sends a spike of agony through my side.

  After what feels like 30 minutes, but in reality is more like 30 seconds, I make it back to where I had dropped my shopping. I thank the convenient timing of Mother Nature as I pull out a pack of tampons. From what I remember, these were originally made for soldiers to plug up bullet wounds. A stab wound is basically the same, right?

  I swear a bit (a lot) as I fumble with the stupid pstic applicator—like why????—but eventually manage to plug the hole in my side. From my shopping bag, I also pull out some wet wipes, and set about cleaning my hands, and then my side, as best I can. I'd bought some painkillers earlier too, so I down like five.

  As I struggle to my feet, I finally noticed the glowing blue window floating in the air.

  [Congratutions! You have gained the unique skill !]

  [You have Awakened!]

  [Gained 5xp]

  [Gained 5xp]

  [You have successfully reached Level 1]

  [Css Advancement unlock! Please select a css!]

  I look at the css list, still perplexed at what is happening. Me? A Ranker? I'd ugh if the situation wasn't so dire and I wasn't slowly bleeding out. I don't want to be a Ranker! I just want to stay in my apartment and code, and not have to deal with anyone.

  Although… I do need to get out of here alive.

  What Css would increase my chance of survival, I wonder. A Tank like Jake?

  While pondering a css choice, another notification pops up.

  [You meet the conditions for the Hidden Css ]

  [Do you accept? (Y/N)]

  Berserker? I haven’t heard of any Rankers with such a css. So, either it’s utter garbage and everyone who chose it died or retired. Or… perhaps? This is a css just for me…? It at least sounds fun though! I reach out a hand to the message in front of me and tap “Y”.

  The screen fshes again with a new set of messages.

  [You have chosen the Css!]

  [You have gained the skill ]

  [You have 3 Attribute points to allocate]

  After dismissing these notifications, a screen with my stats shows up.

  [ID:

  ]

  [Rank: D]

  [Berserker Level 1]

  [HP: 5/20]

  [MP: 5/5]

  [STR: 3]

  [AGI: 0]

  [ARC: 0]

  [VIT: 0]

  [INS: 0]

  [Status: Bleed]

  [Take 1 damage every minute]

  [Skills]

  [(Passive) Fury of the Small]

  [(Active) Berserk]

  Most are set to 0, which is the default attribute value for non-Rankers. My STR, however, is already a 3! It seems this Berserker css really values strength, but unlike something like a Warrior css, its vitality is cking.

  More worryingly is my health, only at 5. I had very nearly died just from that one stab wound. I wince as my side aches and my health drops another point.

  [HP: 4/20]

  Shit.

  I have 4 minutes before I bleed out.